Shaky start but Julian Speroni is taking the long view at Crystal Palace

Julian Speroni is convinced Crystal Palace have enough quality to survive in the Premier League. Ian Holloway’s men have taken just three points from their first five games and were outplayed in last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Swansea.

With 15 arrivals in the summer there are fears Palace could be cast adrift of safety but the goalkeeper is adamant the squad will show their true worth when the team begin to gel.

“Of course, we are good enough to stay up,” said the Argentine ahead of tomorrow’s game at Southampton. “We are very confident.

“We have a good team and we just need to get to know each other and keep working hard.

“We wanted to get points as early as possible but we are only five games in. It is a long season. We need to stay calm, keep carrying on as we are and then the points will come.

“When you have new players in the squad it takes time to get to know each other. It is important to do that quickly but we are doing the right things and it takes time.”

Palace have faced Manchester United and Tottenham this season but Speroni says last week’s opponents provided the toughest test yet.

“The game against Swansea was the only one we weren’t at our best but they are the best team we have played so far. Their quality was amazing and the combination is never good when you have a bad day and the opposition play like that. But before that we have been pleased with our performances, even though we haven’t got results. We are a new team and need to learn from what we did wrong.

“The manager is very positive. He believes in the squad, believes in the players he has — and so do we.”

Speroni feels Southampton — who spent heavily this summer after surviving their first season back in the Premier League — are the perfect template for Palace to follow.

He added: “Southampton have Daniel Osvaldo and Rickie Lambert up front but that is what the Premier League is all about — it is very cosmopolitan. They have tried to impose their style on the league. And teams like Southampton, Norwich and Swansea before have shown you can come into the Premier League, play your football and do well.

“That should be an incentive for us and should be what we try to do. We will do that. It will take time but we can do it.”

Holloway will be back in the dugout tomorrow, having completed a two-match touchline ban.

“Thank God for that [ban is over], it makes such a difference for me, you feel so detached and away from it,” said the Palace manager.

“I know I am 50 but how bad was that for me? To sit there and feel so detached? I have a lot to learn.”